Legalities of starting a Holdem tournament at a Pennsylvania Bar.

#1 07-20-2005, 01:50 AM

Hello,
My Boss is interested in starting a weekly holdem tournament at his bar in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He wants to do everything by the book as he just wants to bring people in to make money off liquor, not poker. So, he asked me to look into all the legalities of the idea. So, i was wondering if you can charge some sort of buy-in for everyone and reward with a cash prize. Is it legal to reward with a cash prize. I just want to get this thing rolling and any information would be greatly appreciated.

DemonDeac · #2 07-20-2005, 02:03 AM

poker is legal in PA as long as the house doesnt profit

Grease · #3 07-20-2005, 02:22 AM

Could you PM me the details of said tourney (if it comes to fruition)?

I live in Haverford and would love some close live action.

tripp0807 · #4 07-20-2005, 08:08 AM

I'm a PA lawyer. If one of my clients asked me this question I'd tell him it was a very bad idea.

-Tripp

sekrah · #5 07-20-2005, 08:14 AM

I posted the same response in another thread.

A local bar got raided holding a tournament where they were keeping $5 from everyone for a buffet-line. Cops raided it.

There are other local bars and fire companies who hold tournaments all the time.. They don't profit, all the entry fees are paid back to the winners. There's been no problems at all.

This is in Pennsylvania.

canis582 · #6 07-20-2005, 08:29 AM

Are you going to hire dealers? Is the bartender going to also be the brush and the floor?

FouTight · #7 07-20-2005, 08:46 AM

I've also thought about this, I live in eastern PA, what if a bar, instead of holding games, was just 'poker friendly'.

I would be a lot more inclined to go to a bar if you could just play cards, not sanctioned by the bar. ALthough, I guess this wouldn't work, mainly because, who makes the finally rulings.

We hold games for fire departments and such pretty frequently, but nothing bar wise.

PA sucks for poker man, it truely truely does.

tripp0807 · #8 07-20-2005, 08:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I live in Haverford and would love some close live action.

[/ QUOTE ]

The drive from Haverford to Doylestown takes what, 30-40% of the time it takes to get from Haverford to AC?

-Tripp

BoogerFace · #9 07-20-2005, 09:46 AM

You could probably get away with a freeroll with the winner getting a t-shirt or a plaque or something. There are free bar leagues up here in Boston.

Gabe DV · #10 07-20-2005, 10:24 AM

My understanding of the law is that if the house doesn't make any kind of profit whatsoever, then it should be ok. But listen to Tripp0807, he is smarter than I am.